The Daily OrangeGrothe surpasses White as league's all-time yards leader
By Ryan Marfurt
Posted: 9/15/09, 11:01 PM EST Section: Sports
Matt Grothe has become synonymous with the rise of University of South Florida football.
The senior quarterback has been the Bulls' starter for the past three years, and has been there for every major step that the young South Florida program has made.
"He is the guy," Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly said of Grothe. "(USF head coach) Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are what have gotten USF from being a first-time program to being a national-caliber football team. Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are the two names that have brought that program to where it is. USF is not where they are without those two."
Last week, Grothe added to his list of accolades, when he became the Big East record-holder for total offensive yards-he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns against Western Kentucky.
Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was arguably the best player in the conference over the last four years. But Saturday, Grothe's 12-yard scamper in the first quarter broke White's conference record of 10,529 total yards in a career. Currently, Grothe is sitting on 10,702 total yards.
"That's really remarkable when you think about it," Leavitt said. "You think of all the great quarterbacks that have gone through the Big East in all the years. For him in the second game of his senior year to surpass Pat White just speaks volumes for Matt."
In his four years, Grothe has been a major reason South Florida is now on the national football map.
He set the standard high when he won the Big East Freshman of the Year award in 2006. In his sophomore year, Grothe lead the Bulls to a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. Grothe continued his success the next year, leading the Bulls to a No. 10 ranking.
"You really got to mix things up (with him)," Kelly said. "You can't just sit back and say 'We're going to defend the run' or 'We're going to defend the pass,' because he has a great group of receivers, and a solid run game."
"You just got to do a good job of mixing things up and not giving him a consistent read, and hope that that does enough to slow him down because he is a guy who is a multi-skilled player."
The senior quarterback has been the Bulls' starter for the past three years, and has been there for every major step that the young South Florida program has made.
"He is the guy," Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly said of Grothe. "(USF head coach) Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are what have gotten USF from being a first-time program to being a national-caliber football team. Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are the two names that have brought that program to where it is. USF is not where they are without those two."
Last week, Grothe added to his list of accolades, when he became the Big East record-holder for total offensive yards-he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns against Western Kentucky.
Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was arguably the best player in the conference over the last four years. But Saturday, Grothe's 12-yard scamper in the first quarter broke White's conference record of 10,529 total yards in a career. Currently, Grothe is sitting on 10,702 total yards.
"That's really remarkable when you think about it," Leavitt said. "You think of all the great quarterbacks that have gone through the Big East in all the years. For him in the second game of his senior year to surpass Pat White just speaks volumes for Matt."
In his four years, Grothe has been a major reason South Florida is now on the national football map.
He set the standard high when he won the Big East Freshman of the Year award in 2006. In his sophomore year, Grothe lead the Bulls to a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. Grothe continued his success the next year, leading the Bulls to a No. 10 ranking.
"You really got to mix things up (with him)," Kelly said. "You can't just sit back and say 'We're going to defend the run' or 'We're going to defend the pass,' because he has a great group of receivers, and a solid run game."
"You just got to do a good job of mixing things up and not giving him a consistent read, and hope that that does enough to slow him down because he is a guy who is a multi-skilled player."
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